Refrigeration



G. VARNEY REFRIGERATION Jan. 8, 1935.

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Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates, in general, to the art of refrigeration, andmore particularly to that phase of refrigeration known as quickfreezing; the objects to be frozen being, usually, either articlessubject to rapid deterioration in the absence of low temperatures orarticles which would suffer disintegration, chemically or physically, iffrozen by a prolonged process. Processes intimately related to the onedisclosed in this application have been disclosed in my co-pendingapplications, Serial Number 542,503, led June 6, 1931; Serial Number561,456, filed Sept. 5, 1931; Serial Number 561,457, filed Sept. 5,19314and Serial Number 544,802, filed June 16, 1931. v

This application is concerned, primarily, with a novel means forproviding for the successive freezing of a plurality of articles andwith an improved refrigeration means.

It is the prime object of this invention to provide a method of and ameans for the improved refrigeration of a plurality of articles.

It is a further object ofthis invention to provide a novel conveyormeans for insuring the successive passage of a plurality of articles tobe frozen through the refrigerating chamber.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a system whichwill include a novel means for refrigerating my conveyor.

It is an especial object of this invention to provide a maximum of heatexchange between the refrigerant and the article to be refrigerated, thesame being manifested in this application in the means for cooling theconveyor belt and the liquids employed for floating the article throughmy refrigerating chamber.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the .accompanyingspecification and claims and will be disclosed in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a schematicshowing of my device.

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view, similar to that shown in Figure 2, of a modificationof my device.

Referring now with greater particularity to the drawing, it will be seenthat my device is comprised, as follows:

My refrigeration chamber is comprised of upper and -lower portions 1 and2 respectively. These two chamber members are of some suitable heatinsulation material, such as cork, and are shaped to fit tightly. Theymay be `secured to each other by any suitable means (not shown). Themember 2 is of substantially U-shaped configuration and has one or morerefrigerant tubes 3 running longitudinally therethrough. In thedisclosure I have shown a tube 3 substantially fitting the area betweenthe forks of the U of the U-shaped member 2. A fluid 4, of relatively(Cl. (i2- 104) high heat conductivity and gravity, is provided, asshown, covering the top of the tube 3; This liquid is supplied insumcient quantity to insure flotation oi' the articles 5 to be frozenand to insure contact of the packages to be frozen with a belt carrier6. 'I'he fluid 4 contemplated for use is mercury, though thisapplication is not limited to this particular fluid. The belt carrier 6is preferably of metal and is of dished or crowned form, as is indicatedin Figure 2. The belt carrier passes over crowned driving rollers 7 and48.

The metal belt. will be, ordinarily, of sumcient thickness to maintainits dished form between the rollers. However, if the space between therollers is great, I prefer to arrange my apparatus in such a manner thatthe belt, on its lower travel, may rest on the curved upper edges of themember 2, as shown at 9.

One or more refrigerating tubes l0 are provided, extendinglongitudinally of my apparatus, and immediately above the upper surfaceof the belt 6 in its lower travel. The dished upper surface of the beltis lled with a liquid 11 of high heat conductive properties, such liquidbeing provided in quantity suilicient to fill the space between thetubes 10 and the belt to provide for intimate heat exchange between thetubes and the belt. The use of such a liquid as mercury is contemplated.

The space between the liquid 4 and the lower surface of the belt 6 maybe filled with a fluid l2 of relatively high heat conductivity but oflow specific gravity. This 'will provide for a better heat transfer tothe walls of package to be refrigerated.

'I'he refrigerant may be of any suitable nature. However, in theapparatus disclosed, I propose using the ammonia expansion system.Suitable inlet pipes 13 and 14 and outlet pipes 15 and 16 are providedfor leading refrigerant to and from the refrigerating tubes 3 and 10,respectively.

The parts of my apparatus having been disclosed, its operation will nowbe seen to be, as follows:

The fluid 11 provides for an intimate` heat exchange between the tube 10and the belt 6. The packages to be refrigerated are floated on theliquid 4 and are pressed thereby into rm contact with the belt 6. 'I'hebelt 6, in its movement, thus carries the packages through -therefrigerating chamber. The liquid 4 and the liquid 12 provide for a heatexchange between the tube 3 and the package, while the liquid 11 servesto provide an intimate heat exchange between the article 5 and the tube10 through the belt 6. The proportions of the fluids 4 and 12 are soarranged of high specific as to provide the necessary degree offlotationl and to insure the rise of the lighter uid 12 around the wallsof the packages.

liquid with thewalls of the tube. It is to be understood that the spacebetween the belt and the tube is not to be greatly in excess of that ofthe package to be frozen, suillcient space being left to provide for thenecessary fluid for at least partial flotation. Y

At 6a I have disclosed protuberances on the belt 6 to engage thearticles and force the same through the chamber, in the event of anystoppage which might occur.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Ina refrigeration apparatus, means to submerge an article and propelthe-same through a refrigerated fluid, means for refrigerating saidfluid and separate means for refrigerating said propelling means.

2. In a refrigeration apparatus, a carrier for -progressively conductinga plurality of articles to be refrigerated through said apparatus, meansfor refrigerating said articles; and separate means for refrigeratingsaid carrier said means being separate from that refrigerating saidarticles.

3. In a refrigeration apparatus, a refrigerating chamber, means forconducting refrigerant into said chamber, a fluid providing flotationmeans for the articles to be refrigerated, a carrier for l conveying thesaid articles through said chamber, said fluid forcing saidarticles-into operative contact with said carrier and means separatefrom chamber, means for conducting vrefrigerant intov said chamber, afluid of high heatv conductive 'properties providing flotation means forthe Y articles to be refrigerated, a carrier for conveying the saidarticles through said chamber, said uid forcing-said articles intooperative contact with said carrier and means separately refrigeratingsaid carrier. I

6. In a refrigeration apparatus, a refrigerating chamber, means forconducting refrigerant into said chamber, a fluid of high specic gravityand of high heat conductive properties providing flotation means for thearticles to be refrigerated,l a carrier for conveying the said articlesthrough said chamber, said fluid forcing said articles into operativecontact with said carrier and means separately refrigerating saidcarrier.

7. In a refrigeration apparatus, a refrigerating chamber, means forconducting refrigerant into.

said chamber, a fluid of high heat conductive properties providingflotation means for the articles to be' refrigerated, a carrier forconveying the said articles through said chamber, said uid forcing saidarticles into operative contact with said carrier, and means forrefrigerating said carrier.

8. In a refrigeration apparatus, a refrigerating chamber, ymeans forconducting refrigerant into said chamber, a fluid of high specific'gravity and high heat conductive properties providing flotation meansfor the articles to be refrigerated, a carrier for conveying the 4saidarticles through said chamber, said fluid forcing said articles intooperative contact with said carrier, and means for refrigerating saidcarrier.

9. In' 'a refrigeration apparatus, a refrigerating chamber, means forconducting refrigerant into said chamber, a fluid of high specificgravity and high heatconductive properties providing flotation means forthe articles to be refrigerated, a carrier for conveying the saidarticles through said chamber, said fluid forcing said articles intooperative contact with said carrier, and means for refrigerating saidcarrier, said last named means including a refrigeration device and afluid means providing heat exchange contact between said device and saidcarrier.

10. Ina refrigeration apparatus, a refrigeration chamber comprised ofupper and lower members of heat insulation material, a refrigerationtube in each of said members, a carrier for progressively feedingarticles to be refrigerated through said apparatus, fluid means in saidlower member contacting with one of said tubes and of such speciilcgravity as to float the said articles and ,force the same into operativecontact with said carrier.

11. In a refrigeration apparatus, a refrigeration chamber comprised ofupper and lower members of heat insulation material, a refrigerationtube in each of said members, a carrier for progressively feedingarticles to be refrigerated through said apparatus, fluid means in saidlower member contac'ting with one of said tubes and of such specificgravity as to float the said articles and force the same into operativecontact with said carrier, and uid means carried by said carrier andcontacting with the other of said tubes.

12. In a refrigeration apparatus, a refrigeration chamber comprised ofupper and lower members of heat insulation material, a refrigerationtube in each of said members, a carrier for progressvely feedingarticles to be refrigerated through said apparatus, and substantiallystatic fluid means providing for heat exchange between said tubes andsaid articles. v

13. In a refrigeration apparatus, a refrigeration chamber comprised ofupper and lower members of heat insulation material, a refrigerationtube in each of said members, a carrier for progressively feedingarticles to be refrigerated through said apparatus,l and substantially`static fluid means in said lower member contacting' with one of saidtubes -and of such specific gravity as to oat the said articles andforce the same into operative contact with said carrier.

14. In a refrigerationapparatus, a refrigeration chamber comprised ofupper and lower members of heat insulation material, a refrigerationtube in eachvof said members, a carrier for progressively feedingarticles to be refrigerated` though said apparatus, substantially static-iluid means in said lower member contacting with one of said tubes andof such specific gravity as to float the said articles and force thesame into operative contact with said carrier, and fluid means carriedby said carrier and contacting with theother of said tubes.

GORDON VARNEY.

